Payback

2

"For the hundredth time, no!"

I crossed my arms and gave them my best frown.

Tiffany mouthed "I got this" to the rest of the girls looking in my direction. There were 17 of them huddled in our table. And all of them had two things in common: they got dumped and played on by Matthew Carter, and they want him to pay back. You could just imagine the stares and surprised looks we received from the rest of the students when we entered the cafeteria. You can't really blame them; it's not everyday they get to witness all of Matthew's ex-girlfriends chilling and hanging out.

Tiffany scooted closer to me. "Come on, Charlie. Didn't you want to help me get over that douche? Well, we've already come up of a plan, we'll just need you to act on it."

I threw my hands in exasperation. "Why me? Why not Ms. Hey-can-I-join-you're-conversation-it-looks-interesting over there?" I pointed at a girl from another table who clearly wanted to come up to us and join our little gathering.

"Because you're the only girl we know who's not affected by Matthew's charm. Look, if we ask some other girls, they'll just end up falling for him as well, and we'll never get to avenge ourselves. And besides, you hate him too much to develop any feelings for him, you can easily pull this off," Tiffany explained.

She did have a point there. I hated the guy to the depths of the deepest oceans. He's an arrogant, self-centered jerk who has an over-inflated ego and a baboon-butt for a face. I don't even know what girls see in him.

I sighed and finally decided to surrender to the plan. "Fine, alright, I'll do it." Tiffany and the rest of the girls squealed in chorus, which earned us weird looks from the students seated near us. "But, what's in it for me?" I added.

"Uhm... you get to date the hottest guy in school and dump him?" a girl named Gretchen pointed out in a 'duh' tone.

I shook my head. That's no fun for me at all. Well, maybe I'll enjoy it a little, considering I get to make the jerk cry.

Tiffany rolled her eyes. "What do you want?"

I furrowed my eyebrows and was in deep thought. I got it! "You will never scream, squeal, squeak or do any of those at me and never talk about Matthew again."

My answered earned gasps from the eighteen girls. That's difficult to them already? I almost decided on making them do my homeworks for the rest of the year! But of course, I wouldn't do that. They might pull my grade from A down to a C.

"Fine, it's a deal. But you have to promise you won't pull out of the mission. You have to spit-swear," she declared.

I smiled at her. We used to spit-swear all the time when we were at primary school. We'd tell each other our secrets and crushes, and swear never to tell others. We both spat on our hands and shook it.

"Okay, ew," a girl who I recognized as Jessica retorted.

I grabbed a napkin and wiped my hand. "So, can anyone tell me what the plan is again?"

"I'll do it!" a brunette squealed excitedly. It was obvious in her face that she had wanted to talk and gossip the moment we sat on the table, but apparently didn't get the chance. "We dress you up and we make Matthew notice you. When he does, you'll pretend to like him and date him. At the night of the Winter Dance, which is 30 days from now to be exact, you'll dump him and we'll spread the news like fire!"

Thirty days, huh? I can handle that! I nodded. "Alright, I'll do it."

"Great! I'll be at your house tomorrow at six to prepare for the big day!" Tiffany rubbed her hands, ecstatic and giddy for tomorrow.

I laughed at her. Laugh while you still can, Charlie. You'll definitely regret agreeing to this soon, my subconscious mind warned. Who invited you? My other psyche countered.

I shook them away for a while when I realized it was only Tiffany and I left at the table. Tiffany was glaring at someone, and when I turned to the person, I saw a six foot, delicious-looking brunette passing by us with his arm draped on a blondie who looked more like a hooker than a student. It was Matthew. I shook my head in disapproval. Didn't he just break up with Tiffany? And he's moved on to another girl already? Butt-face jerk.

When I turned back to Tiffany, she looked uncomfortable and hurt was stretched all over her goddess of a face. I felt a frown forming on my face. Don't you worry, Tiff, I'll take care of everything. You just sit back and relax.

Looking back at Matthew, I noticed he had his eyes aimed at me. Or was I just assuming that? I quickly broke eye contact with him and resumed eating my now-cold lunch.

Tomorrow will either be a hit or a miss. I tensed at the thought.

I really hope it's the first one.